riddle me this... 2f versus 3f in .45

[Wills Point Pete]

 You will get a somewhat higher velocity with 3f than with 2f. This will not matter for CAS, of course, but might for hunting. Now about 37 grains is as much real black that can be conveniently loaded under a 250 gr. bullet in .45 Colt with modern cases. I have loaded 40+ under that same bullet but had to use a homemade compression die to get the powder in. And then had to seat and crimp the bullet right then. Pretty much all I got out of it was higher recoil.

I fooled around with the 3f and the compression die out of curiosity. Today all my .45 loading is with 2f and using Driftwood's 1/8 compression. Now if I was loading up for a new gunfight in the vacant lot between Fly's Boarding House and the OK Corral I might go with the 3f again but, since I'm not...

[Greysmoke]

Rickk,
If you have every seen and measured a 1st gen pre-1890 vintage colt 45 LC cylinder you will know why 2F is recommended. Those cylinders had points that were so thin that I don't want to shoot them with anything but 30g FF with cream o wheat filler and the 250g.

[rickk]

Greysmoke, I see logic in your words.

[Fairshake]

 A lot of what BP shooters don't take into consideration when talking about the amount of grains is where they are made. By that I mean that all other countries use the metric system and the grains of powder are smaller. I know that a grain is a grain so lets not go there. They all with Swiss leading the way have smaller grain sizes. Look at the Swiss 2 F under a microscope and then compare it to Goex 2F. The powder is much more even than Goex. The Goex has grains that are all different shapes and sizes and not even and smooth like the Swiss. If you don't know then let me enlighten you to the fact that Black Powder burns from the surface in. If your surface is smooth and even then it stands to reason that it will burn with a more even pattern than one that appears to have 10 different angles. The difference is easy to figure out when asking which to use, 2F or 3F. A slower burn such as 2F will perform better in a shotgun case because it takes longer to complete and send the shot down the barrel. 2F will also make less recoil which in the game of speed such as SASS is a better choice. I have some 2F and 3F that I mixed in equal parts to try to see how that worked in SASS. It seems to do well. That is what Goex did with the Cowboy Powder except that they had something like 62% 2F 36% 3F and 2% 4F. Just a rough break down and not meant to be exact so don't jump yet. All Black Powder that is made at the same time by a company is the same until it is broken down into grades. The best all around for covering most all uses will be 2F. That is meant for shotgun and the larger handgun calibers. I am not speaking of a 31 caliber  revolver.